The technicalities of lighting can be highly involved, but understanding the nature of each light type in 3D apps can help you create better lighting setups. Last month we covered some of the general guidelines you need to follow - now we'll take that a step further.
Like many aspects of 3D programs, the virtual objects and tools are designed to closely mirror their real counterparts. So we have spot, point and distant lights, as well as area and tube lights which help mimic the properties of light in the real world. But as any experienced 3D artist knows, getting imagery to look right often requires lighting set-ups that would be impossible to achieve in reality.
The best way to learn is to experiment - you may need to place lights inside objects, link them to animated objects, bury them in walls or under floors. So fire up your 3D program and get started.
Download the tutorial pdf here.
